>> Monday, March 7, 2016

COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

Roger
Sacyaten

BONTOC, Mountain
Province -- This year’s edition of the Lang-ay Festival may yet be regarded as
a glimpse to the ancient culture of the central tribe of Bontok and almost
other tribes in the province that regard the evolution of the people in this
parts of the province from a common origin.

Among the first
activities of Lang-ay is a trek to the legendary Mount Kalawitan,
4th highest mountain of Luzon rising at 2714meters above sea level in the
trio-boundary of Bontoc, Sabangan, and Bauko in the province.

Folklore has it that
the peak of Mount Kalawitan was not submerged during the great flood that
inundated the earth. It was here that Wigan and Bugan begun the start of
civilization, a story that elders best recant with varied versions depending on
ones’ location.

Beautiful stories
abound as much as varied flora and fauna can be found in the area captivating
trekkers who have gone once to the enchanted mountain.

It was also believed
that there was once a mountain god named Lumawig who had three giant snakes.
The three snakes convened about leaving the mountain, but before they had the
chance the god Lumawig, who feared that many people will die when the three
snakes leave the mountain, turned them into three rivers that flows around the
mountain namely the Chico River, Kapangdanan River, and Dilikey River.

The group organizing
the Lang-ay Trek plans to make the event invitational inviting all
mountaineering enthusiasts to come and join the activity on April 2. A
pre-validation trek is to be conducted before the day possibly in the last week
of February.

Another innovation
scheduled for Lang-ay Festival 2016 is the olden “Fagfagto” along the Chico
River banks. Strategic and exact location is still being determined by those in
charge of the indigenous games.

“Fagfagto” had been an
annual tradition observed in the olden times by folks during the times when
rice crop harvesting is done and the beginning of the planting of sweet
potatoes or camote in the rice fields.

It involved the
throwing of stones by opposing teams of young males at against each other as
they were stationed at opposite camps across the Chico River near Samoki every
afternoon.

The objective in the
event is to hit the members of the opposing team as many as possible to win the
game which can only be distinguished when the opposing team retreats or run
away.

It is the beliefs that
the more injuries a participant sustain during the ‘fagfagto’ mean the bigger
in size and quantity the sweet potato or camote he will harvest.

It was learned that
the mechanics and guidelines are still detailed by those concerned. But the
‘fafagto’ will happen on April 9.

Among the other
identified events during the Lang-ay Festival are the Agro-trade fair from
April 1-10, Indigenous games and cultural exposition from April 6-9, Igorot
showdown and Ethnic fashion show on April 8, and street dancing and cultural
presentations, Lang-ay by the street, and Gangsa Night on April 9

The biggest “patopat”
will be featured in the afternoon of April 9 for the public to partake along
with other indigenous foods and drinks in the Lang-ay by the Street sponsored
by the Bontoc Market Vendors Association, the Foyayeng Young Mothers Organization
and the Afew Womens Association.

As part of the
featuring of the history and culture of the province, the International Igorot
Conference of the Igorot Global Organization will be conducted.

Participants to this
conference are natives of the region and the province who are working and
residing elsewhere, abroad and in the country. This will be an opportunity for
a home-coming for them.

“It is expected that
the history of the province and cultures of the people will be highlighted in
the staging of Lang-ay Festival 2016. Some may have been portrayed in past
Lang-ays but this year’s edition will be an event to watch out for”, said
Paulino Tumapang Jr., Chairperson of the Lang-ay Festival Organization, the
embodiment of the partnership between the provincial government and the private
sector with the involvement of the local government units and some national
line agencies.